OBCs under women’s reservation, nationwide caste census: Mallikarjun Kharge’s big promises at CWC meet in Delhi

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the top decision-making body of the Congress party, convened a meeting on Monday in Delhi, coinciding with the announcement of the 2023 Assembly elections scheduled by the Election Commission of India on the same day.

Kharge, leading the meeting, assured that the Women’s Reservation Bill would be implemented and extended to include Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Furthermore, he pledged that a nationwide caste-based Census would be conducted should the party secure victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

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Kharge posted on X, sharing snippets from his speech, stating, “We resolve to implement women’s reservation, including extending it to OBC women when we come to power in 2024… We have also called for a nationwide Caste-based Census, crucial for effective government programs and welfare schemes.”

In questioning the implementation and exclusion of OBC women, he remarked, “We resolve to implement women’s reservation, including extending the reservation to OBC women when we come to power in 2024.”

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Kharge also criticised the Prime Minister’s absence in Manipur and accused him of launching baseless attacks on the Congress party. He emphasized the need for Congress to counter these attacks with their own narrative.

Encouraging people to combat the false narratives propagated by the Prime Minister, Kharge asserted, “The Prime Minister’s absence in Manipur sharply contrasts with his frequent visits to states heading into elections. His unsubstantiated attacks, laden with falsehoods against the Congress party, are expected to increase in the days to come. It is crucial that we counter these untruths and craft our own counter-narrative.”

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He also took a swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) “divisive strategies and the misuse of autonomous bodies,” which he sees as a peril to democratic stability.

In his concluding remarks, the Congress leader emphasized the party’s goal for 2024: to establish a government that addresses pressing challenges and prioritises marginalised communities, youth, women, farmers, and laborers. Additionally, the party aims to tackle urgent issues like inflation and unemployment while staying attentive to the voices of the people.

The leader also highlighted the commendable work of Congress-led state governments and past administrations, aiming to instill confidence and ignite hope for a brighter future.

During the two-day meeting in Hyderabad last month, the CWC passed a resolution expressing confidence in the party’s decisive mandate from the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana in the upcoming Assembly elections. The Congress chief urged party leaders to put aside personal differences for the party’s success.